FOOTNOTES:

Cant. VI.

The birth of faire Belphœbe andOf Amoret is told.The Gardins of Adonis fraughtWith pleasures manifold.

The birth of faire Belphœbe and

Of Amoret is told.

The Gardins of Adonis fraught

With pleasures manifold.

Well may I weene, faire Ladies, all this whileiYe wonder, how this noble DamozellSo great perfections did in her compile,that in saluage forests she did dwell,So farre from court and royall Citadell,The great schoolmistresse[993]of all curtesy:Seemeth that such wild woods should far expellAll ciuill vsage and gentility,And gentle sprite deforme with rude rusticity.

Well may I weene, faire Ladies, all this whilei

Ye wonder, how this noble Damozell

So great perfections did in her compile,

that in saluage forests she did dwell,

So farre from court and royall Citadell,

The great schoolmistresse[993]of all curtesy:

Seemeth that such wild woods should far expell

All ciuill vsage and gentility,

And gentle sprite deforme with rude rusticity.

But to this faireBelphœbein her berthiiThe heauens so fauourable were and free,Looking with myld aspect vpon the earth,In th’Horoscopeof her natiuitee,That all the gifts of grace and chastiteeOn her they poured forth of plenteous horne;Iouelaught onVenusfrom his soueraigne see,AndPhœbuswith faire beames did her adorne,And all theGracesrockt her cradle being borne.Her berth was of the wombe of Morning dew,iiiAnd her conception of the ioyous Prime,And all her whole creation did her shewPure and vnspotted from all loathly crime,That is ingenerate in fleshly slime.So was this virgin borne, so was she bred,So was she trayned vp from time to time,In all chast vertue, and true bounti-hedTill to her dew perfection she was[994]ripened.Her mother was the faireChrysogonee,ivThe daughter ofAmphisa, who by raceA Faerie was, yborne of high degree,She boreBelphœbe, she bore in like caceFaireAmorettain the second place:These two were twinnes, and twixt them two did shareThe heritage of all celestiall grace.That all the rest it seem’d they robbed bareOf bountie, and of beautie, and all vertues rare.It were a goodly storie, to declare,vBy what straunge accident faireChrysogoneConceiu’d these infants, and how them she bare[995],In this wild forrest wandring all alone,After she had nine moneths fulfild and gone:For not as other wemens commune brood,They were enwombed in the sacred throneOf her chaste bodie, nor with commune food,As other wemens babes, they sucked vitall blood.

But to this faireBelphœbein her berthii

The heauens so fauourable were and free,

Looking with myld aspect vpon the earth,

In th’Horoscopeof her natiuitee,

That all the gifts of grace and chastitee

On her they poured forth of plenteous horne;

Iouelaught onVenusfrom his soueraigne see,

AndPhœbuswith faire beames did her adorne,

And all theGracesrockt her cradle being borne.

Her berth was of the wombe of Morning dew,iiiAnd her conception of the ioyous Prime,And all her whole creation did her shewPure and vnspotted from all loathly crime,That is ingenerate in fleshly slime.So was this virgin borne, so was she bred,So was she trayned vp from time to time,In all chast vertue, and true bounti-hedTill to her dew perfection she was[994]ripened.

Her berth was of the wombe of Morning dew,iii

And her conception of the ioyous Prime,

And all her whole creation did her shew

Pure and vnspotted from all loathly crime,

That is ingenerate in fleshly slime.

So was this virgin borne, so was she bred,

So was she trayned vp from time to time,

In all chast vertue, and true bounti-hed

Till to her dew perfection she was[994]ripened.

Her mother was the faireChrysogonee,ivThe daughter ofAmphisa, who by raceA Faerie was, yborne of high degree,She boreBelphœbe, she bore in like caceFaireAmorettain the second place:These two were twinnes, and twixt them two did shareThe heritage of all celestiall grace.That all the rest it seem’d they robbed bareOf bountie, and of beautie, and all vertues rare.

Her mother was the faireChrysogonee,iv

The daughter ofAmphisa, who by race

A Faerie was, yborne of high degree,

She boreBelphœbe, she bore in like cace

FaireAmorettain the second place:

These two were twinnes, and twixt them two did share

The heritage of all celestiall grace.

That all the rest it seem’d they robbed bare

Of bountie, and of beautie, and all vertues rare.

It were a goodly storie, to declare,vBy what straunge accident faireChrysogoneConceiu’d these infants, and how them she bare[995],In this wild forrest wandring all alone,After she had nine moneths fulfild and gone:For not as other wemens commune brood,They were enwombed in the sacred throneOf her chaste bodie, nor with commune food,As other wemens babes, they sucked vitall blood.

It were a goodly storie, to declare,v

By what straunge accident faireChrysogone

Conceiu’d these infants, and how them she bare[995],

In this wild forrest wandring all alone,

After she had nine moneths fulfild and gone:

For not as other wemens commune brood,

They were enwombed in the sacred throne

Of her chaste bodie, nor with commune food,

As other wemens babes, they sucked vitall blood.

But wondrously they were begot, and bredviThrough influence of th’heauens fruitfull ray,As it in antique bookes is mentioned.It was vpon a Sommers shynie day,WhenTitanfaire his beames[996]did display,In a fresh fountaine, farre from all mens vew,She bath’d her brest, the boyling heat t’ allay;She bath’d with roses red, and violets blew,And all the sweetest flowres, that in the forrest grew.Till faint through irkesome wearinesse, adowneviiVpon the grassie ground her selfe she laydTo sleepe, the whiles a gentle slombring swowneVpon her fell all naked bare displayd;The sunne-beames bright vpon her body playd,Being through former bathing mollifide,And pierst into her wombe, where they embaydWith so sweet sence and secret power vnspide,That in her pregnant flesh they shortly fructifide.Miraculous may seeme to him, that readesviiiSo straunge ensample of conception;But reason teacheth that the fruitfull seadesOf all things liuing, through impressionOf the sunbeames in moyst complexion,Doe life conceiue and quickned are by kynd:So afterNilusinvndation,Infinite shapes of creatures[997]men do fynd,Informed in the mud, on which the Sunne hath shynd.Great father he of generationixIs rightly cald, th’author of life and light;And his faire sister for creationMinistreth matter fit, which tempred rightWith heate and humour, breedes the liuing wight.So sprong these twinnes in wombe ofChrysogone,Yet wist she nought thereof, but sore affright,Wondred to see her belly so vpblone,Which still increast, till she her terme had full outgone.

But wondrously they were begot, and bredvi

Through influence of th’heauens fruitfull ray,

As it in antique bookes is mentioned.

It was vpon a Sommers shynie day,

WhenTitanfaire his beames[996]did display,

In a fresh fountaine, farre from all mens vew,

She bath’d her brest, the boyling heat t’ allay;

She bath’d with roses red, and violets blew,

And all the sweetest flowres, that in the forrest grew.

Till faint through irkesome wearinesse, adowneviiVpon the grassie ground her selfe she laydTo sleepe, the whiles a gentle slombring swowneVpon her fell all naked bare displayd;The sunne-beames bright vpon her body playd,Being through former bathing mollifide,And pierst into her wombe, where they embaydWith so sweet sence and secret power vnspide,That in her pregnant flesh they shortly fructifide.

Till faint through irkesome wearinesse, adownevii

Vpon the grassie ground her selfe she layd

To sleepe, the whiles a gentle slombring swowne

Vpon her fell all naked bare displayd;

The sunne-beames bright vpon her body playd,

Being through former bathing mollifide,

And pierst into her wombe, where they embayd

With so sweet sence and secret power vnspide,

That in her pregnant flesh they shortly fructifide.

Miraculous may seeme to him, that readesviiiSo straunge ensample of conception;But reason teacheth that the fruitfull seadesOf all things liuing, through impressionOf the sunbeames in moyst complexion,Doe life conceiue and quickned are by kynd:So afterNilusinvndation,Infinite shapes of creatures[997]men do fynd,Informed in the mud, on which the Sunne hath shynd.

Miraculous may seeme to him, that readesviii

So straunge ensample of conception;

But reason teacheth that the fruitfull seades

Of all things liuing, through impression

Of the sunbeames in moyst complexion,

Doe life conceiue and quickned are by kynd:

So afterNilusinvndation,

Infinite shapes of creatures[997]men do fynd,

Informed in the mud, on which the Sunne hath shynd.

Great father he of generationixIs rightly cald, th’author of life and light;And his faire sister for creationMinistreth matter fit, which tempred rightWith heate and humour, breedes the liuing wight.So sprong these twinnes in wombe ofChrysogone,Yet wist she nought thereof, but sore affright,Wondred to see her belly so vpblone,Which still increast, till she her terme had full outgone.

Great father he of generationix

Is rightly cald, th’author of life and light;

And his faire sister for creation

Ministreth matter fit, which tempred right

With heate and humour, breedes the liuing wight.

So sprong these twinnes in wombe ofChrysogone,

Yet wist she nought thereof, but sore affright,

Wondred to see her belly so vpblone,

Which still increast, till she her terme had full outgone.

Whereof conceiuing shame and foule disgrace,xAlbe her guiltlesse conscience her cleard,She fled into the wildernesse a space,Till that vnweeldy burden she had reard,And shund dishonor, which as death she feard:Where wearie of long trauell, downe to restHer selfe she set, and comfortably cheard;There a sad cloud of sleepe her ouerkest,And seized euery sense with sorrow sore opprest.It fortuned, faireVenushauing lostxiHer little sonne, the winged god of loue,Who for some light displeasure, which him crost,Was from her fled, as flit as ayerie Doue,And left her blisfull bowre of ioy aboue,(So from her often he had fled away,When she for ought him sharpely did reproue,And wandred in the world in strange aray,Disguiz’d in thousand shapes, that none might him bewray.)Him for to seeke, she left her heauenly hous,xiiThe house of goodly formes and faire aspects,Whence all the world deriues the gloriousFeatures of beautie[998], and all shapes select,With which high God his workmanship hath deckt;And searched euery way, through which his wingsHad borne him, or his tract she mote detect:She promist kisses sweet, and sweeter thingsVnto the man, that of him tydings to her brings.First she him sought in Court, where most he vsedxiiiWhylome to haunt, but there she found him not;But many there she found, which sore accusedHis falsehood, and with foule infamous blotHis cruell deedes and wicked wyles did spot:Ladies and Lords she euery where mote heareComplayning, how with his empoysned shotTheir wofull harts he wounded had whyleare,And so had left them languishing twixt hope and feare.

Whereof conceiuing shame and foule disgrace,x

Albe her guiltlesse conscience her cleard,

She fled into the wildernesse a space,

Till that vnweeldy burden she had reard,

And shund dishonor, which as death she feard:

Where wearie of long trauell, downe to rest

Her selfe she set, and comfortably cheard;

There a sad cloud of sleepe her ouerkest,

And seized euery sense with sorrow sore opprest.

It fortuned, faireVenushauing lostxiHer little sonne, the winged god of loue,Who for some light displeasure, which him crost,Was from her fled, as flit as ayerie Doue,And left her blisfull bowre of ioy aboue,(So from her often he had fled away,When she for ought him sharpely did reproue,And wandred in the world in strange aray,Disguiz’d in thousand shapes, that none might him bewray.)

It fortuned, faireVenushauing lostxi

Her little sonne, the winged god of loue,

Who for some light displeasure, which him crost,

Was from her fled, as flit as ayerie Doue,

And left her blisfull bowre of ioy aboue,

(So from her often he had fled away,

When she for ought him sharpely did reproue,

And wandred in the world in strange aray,

Disguiz’d in thousand shapes, that none might him bewray.)

Him for to seeke, she left her heauenly hous,xiiThe house of goodly formes and faire aspects,Whence all the world deriues the gloriousFeatures of beautie[998], and all shapes select,With which high God his workmanship hath deckt;And searched euery way, through which his wingsHad borne him, or his tract she mote detect:She promist kisses sweet, and sweeter thingsVnto the man, that of him tydings to her brings.

Him for to seeke, she left her heauenly hous,xii

The house of goodly formes and faire aspects,

Whence all the world deriues the glorious

Features of beautie[998], and all shapes select,

With which high God his workmanship hath deckt;

And searched euery way, through which his wings

Had borne him, or his tract she mote detect:

She promist kisses sweet, and sweeter things

Vnto the man, that of him tydings to her brings.

First she him sought in Court, where most he vsedxiiiWhylome to haunt, but there she found him not;But many there she found, which sore accusedHis falsehood, and with foule infamous blotHis cruell deedes and wicked wyles did spot:Ladies and Lords she euery where mote heareComplayning, how with his empoysned shotTheir wofull harts he wounded had whyleare,And so had left them languishing twixt hope and feare.

First she him sought in Court, where most he vsedxiii

Whylome to haunt, but there she found him not;

But many there she found, which sore accused

His falsehood, and with foule infamous blot

His cruell deedes and wicked wyles did spot:

Ladies and Lords she euery where mote heare

Complayning, how with his empoysned shot

Their wofull harts he wounded had whyleare,

And so had left them languishing twixt hope and feare.

She then the Citties sought from gate to gate,xivAnd euery one did aske, did he him see;And euery one her answerd, that too lateHe had him seene, and felt the crueltieOf his sharpe darts and whot artillerie;And euery one threw forth reproches rifeOf his mischieuous deedes, and said, That heeWas the disturber of all ciuill life,The enimy of peace, and author of all strife.Then in the countrey she abroad him sought,xvAnd in the rurall cottages inquired,Where also many plaints to her were brought,How he their heedlesse harts with loue had fyred,And his false venim through their veines inspyred;And eke the gentle shepheard swaynes, which satKeeping their fleecie flockes, as they were hyred,She sweetly heard complaine, both how and whatHer sonne had to them doen; yet she did smile thereat.But when in none of all these she him got,xviShe gan auize, where else he mote him hyde:At last she her bethought, that she had notYet sought the saluage woods and forrests wyde,In which full many louely Nymphes abyde,Mongst whom might be, that he did closely lye,Or that the loue of some of them him tyde:For thy she thither cast her course t’apply,To search the secret haunts ofDianescompany.Shortly vnto the wastefull woods she came,xviiWhereas she found the Goddesse with her crew,After late chace of their embrewed game,Sitting beside a fountaine in a rew,Some of them washing with the liquid dewFrom off[999]their dainty limbes the dustie sweat,And soyle which did deforme their liuely hew;Others[1000]lay shaded from the scorching heat;The rest vpon her person gaue attendance great.

She then the Citties sought from gate to gate,xiv

And euery one did aske, did he him see;

And euery one her answerd, that too late

He had him seene, and felt the crueltie

Of his sharpe darts and whot artillerie;

And euery one threw forth reproches rife

Of his mischieuous deedes, and said, That hee

Was the disturber of all ciuill life,

The enimy of peace, and author of all strife.

Then in the countrey she abroad him sought,xvAnd in the rurall cottages inquired,Where also many plaints to her were brought,How he their heedlesse harts with loue had fyred,And his false venim through their veines inspyred;And eke the gentle shepheard swaynes, which satKeeping their fleecie flockes, as they were hyred,She sweetly heard complaine, both how and whatHer sonne had to them doen; yet she did smile thereat.

Then in the countrey she abroad him sought,xv

And in the rurall cottages inquired,

Where also many plaints to her were brought,

How he their heedlesse harts with loue had fyred,

And his false venim through their veines inspyred;

And eke the gentle shepheard swaynes, which sat

Keeping their fleecie flockes, as they were hyred,

She sweetly heard complaine, both how and what

Her sonne had to them doen; yet she did smile thereat.

But when in none of all these she him got,xviShe gan auize, where else he mote him hyde:At last she her bethought, that she had notYet sought the saluage woods and forrests wyde,In which full many louely Nymphes abyde,Mongst whom might be, that he did closely lye,Or that the loue of some of them him tyde:For thy she thither cast her course t’apply,To search the secret haunts ofDianescompany.

But when in none of all these she him got,xvi

She gan auize, where else he mote him hyde:

At last she her bethought, that she had not

Yet sought the saluage woods and forrests wyde,

In which full many louely Nymphes abyde,

Mongst whom might be, that he did closely lye,

Or that the loue of some of them him tyde:

For thy she thither cast her course t’apply,

To search the secret haunts ofDianescompany.

Shortly vnto the wastefull woods she came,xviiWhereas she found the Goddesse with her crew,After late chace of their embrewed game,Sitting beside a fountaine in a rew,Some of them washing with the liquid dewFrom off[999]their dainty limbes the dustie sweat,And soyle which did deforme their liuely hew;Others[1000]lay shaded from the scorching heat;The rest vpon her person gaue attendance great.

Shortly vnto the wastefull woods she came,xvii

Whereas she found the Goddesse with her crew,

After late chace of their embrewed game,

Sitting beside a fountaine in a rew,

Some of them washing with the liquid dew

From off[999]their dainty limbes the dustie sweat,

And soyle which did deforme their liuely hew;

Others[1000]lay shaded from the scorching heat;

The rest vpon her person gaue attendance great.

She hauing hong vpon a bough on highxviiiHer bow and painted quiuer, had vnlasteHer siluer buskins from her nimble thigh,And her lancke loynes vngirt, and brests vnbraste,After her heat the breathing cold to taste;Her golden lockes, that late in tresses brightEmbreaded were for hindring of her haste,Now loose about her shoulders hong vndight,And were with sweetAmbrosiaall besprinckled light.Soone as sheVenussaw behind her backe,xixShe was asham’d to be so loose surprized,And woxe halfe wroth against her damzels slacke,That had not her thereof before auized,But suffred her so carelesly disguizedBe ouertaken. Soone her garments looseVpgath’ring, in her bosome she comprized,Well as she might, and to the Goddesse rose,Whiles all her Nymphes did like a girlond her enclose.Goodly she gan faireCythereagreet,xxAnd shortly asked her, what cause her broughtInto that wildernesse for her vnmeet,From her sweete bowres, and beds with pleasures fraught:That suddein change she strange aduenture thought.To whom halfe weeping, she thus answered,That she her dearest sonneCupidosought,Who in his frowardnesse from her was fled;That she repented sore, to haue him angered.ThereatDianagan to smile, in scornexxiOf her vaine plaint, and to her scoffing sayd;Great pittie sure, that ye be so forlorneOf your gay sonne, that giues ye so good aydTo your disports: ill mote ye bene apayd.But she was more engrieued, and replide;Faire sister, ill beseemes it to vpbraydA dolefull heart with so disdainfull pride;The like that mine, may be your paine another tide.

She hauing hong vpon a bough on highxviii

Her bow and painted quiuer, had vnlaste

Her siluer buskins from her nimble thigh,

And her lancke loynes vngirt, and brests vnbraste,

After her heat the breathing cold to taste;

Her golden lockes, that late in tresses bright

Embreaded were for hindring of her haste,

Now loose about her shoulders hong vndight,

And were with sweetAmbrosiaall besprinckled light.

Soone as sheVenussaw behind her backe,xixShe was asham’d to be so loose surprized,And woxe halfe wroth against her damzels slacke,That had not her thereof before auized,But suffred her so carelesly disguizedBe ouertaken. Soone her garments looseVpgath’ring, in her bosome she comprized,Well as she might, and to the Goddesse rose,Whiles all her Nymphes did like a girlond her enclose.

Soone as sheVenussaw behind her backe,xix

She was asham’d to be so loose surprized,

And woxe halfe wroth against her damzels slacke,

That had not her thereof before auized,

But suffred her so carelesly disguized

Be ouertaken. Soone her garments loose

Vpgath’ring, in her bosome she comprized,

Well as she might, and to the Goddesse rose,

Whiles all her Nymphes did like a girlond her enclose.

Goodly she gan faireCythereagreet,xxAnd shortly asked her, what cause her broughtInto that wildernesse for her vnmeet,From her sweete bowres, and beds with pleasures fraught:That suddein change she strange aduenture thought.To whom halfe weeping, she thus answered,That she her dearest sonneCupidosought,Who in his frowardnesse from her was fled;That she repented sore, to haue him angered.

Goodly she gan faireCythereagreet,xx

And shortly asked her, what cause her brought

Into that wildernesse for her vnmeet,

From her sweete bowres, and beds with pleasures fraught:

That suddein change she strange aduenture thought.

To whom halfe weeping, she thus answered,

That she her dearest sonneCupidosought,

Who in his frowardnesse from her was fled;

That she repented sore, to haue him angered.

ThereatDianagan to smile, in scornexxiOf her vaine plaint, and to her scoffing sayd;Great pittie sure, that ye be so forlorneOf your gay sonne, that giues ye so good aydTo your disports: ill mote ye bene apayd.But she was more engrieued, and replide;Faire sister, ill beseemes it to vpbraydA dolefull heart with so disdainfull pride;The like that mine, may be your paine another tide.

ThereatDianagan to smile, in scornexxi

Of her vaine plaint, and to her scoffing sayd;

Great pittie sure, that ye be so forlorne

Of your gay sonne, that giues ye so good ayd

To your disports: ill mote ye bene apayd.

But she was more engrieued, and replide;

Faire sister, ill beseemes it to vpbrayd

A dolefull heart with so disdainfull pride;

The like that mine, may be your paine another tide.

As you in woods and wanton wildernessexxiiYour glory set, to chace the saluage beasts,So my delight is all in ioyfulnesse,In beds, in bowres, in banckets, and in feasts:And ill becomes you with your loftie creasts,To scorne the ioy, thatIoueis glad to seeke;We both are bound to follow heauens beheasts,And tend our charges with obeisance meeke:Spare, gentle sister, with reproch my paine to eeke.And tell me, if that ye my sonne haue heard,xxiiiTo lurke emongst your Nymphes in secret wize;Or keepe their cabins: much I am affeard,Least he like one of them him selfe disguize,And turne his arrowes to their exercize:So may he long himselfe full easie hide:For he is faire and fresh in face and guize,As any Nymph (let not it be enuyde.)So saying euery Nymph full narrowly she eyde.ButPhœbetherewith sore was angered,xxivAnd sharply said; Goe Dame, goe seeke your boy,Where you him lately left, inMarshis bed;He comes not here, we scorne his foolish ioy,Ne lend we leisure to his idle toy:But if I catch him in this company,ByStygianlake I vow, whose sad annoyThe Gods doe dread, he dearely shall abye:Ile clip his wanton wings, that he no more shall fly.Whom when asVenussaw so sore displeased,xxvShe inly sory was, and gan relent,What she had said: so her she soone appeased,With sugred words and gentle blandishment,Which as[1001]a fountaine from her sweet lips went,And welled goodly forth, that in short spaceShe was well pleasd, and forth her damzels sent,Through all the woods, to search from place to place,If any tract of him or tydings they mote trace.

As you in woods and wanton wildernessexxii

Your glory set, to chace the saluage beasts,

So my delight is all in ioyfulnesse,

In beds, in bowres, in banckets, and in feasts:

And ill becomes you with your loftie creasts,

To scorne the ioy, thatIoueis glad to seeke;

We both are bound to follow heauens beheasts,

And tend our charges with obeisance meeke:

Spare, gentle sister, with reproch my paine to eeke.

And tell me, if that ye my sonne haue heard,xxiiiTo lurke emongst your Nymphes in secret wize;Or keepe their cabins: much I am affeard,Least he like one of them him selfe disguize,And turne his arrowes to their exercize:So may he long himselfe full easie hide:For he is faire and fresh in face and guize,As any Nymph (let not it be enuyde.)So saying euery Nymph full narrowly she eyde.

And tell me, if that ye my sonne haue heard,xxiii

To lurke emongst your Nymphes in secret wize;

Or keepe their cabins: much I am affeard,

Least he like one of them him selfe disguize,

And turne his arrowes to their exercize:

So may he long himselfe full easie hide:

For he is faire and fresh in face and guize,

As any Nymph (let not it be enuyde.)

So saying euery Nymph full narrowly she eyde.

ButPhœbetherewith sore was angered,xxivAnd sharply said; Goe Dame, goe seeke your boy,Where you him lately left, inMarshis bed;He comes not here, we scorne his foolish ioy,Ne lend we leisure to his idle toy:But if I catch him in this company,ByStygianlake I vow, whose sad annoyThe Gods doe dread, he dearely shall abye:Ile clip his wanton wings, that he no more shall fly.

ButPhœbetherewith sore was angered,xxiv

And sharply said; Goe Dame, goe seeke your boy,

Where you him lately left, inMarshis bed;

He comes not here, we scorne his foolish ioy,

Ne lend we leisure to his idle toy:

But if I catch him in this company,

ByStygianlake I vow, whose sad annoy

The Gods doe dread, he dearely shall abye:

Ile clip his wanton wings, that he no more shall fly.

Whom when asVenussaw so sore displeased,xxvShe inly sory was, and gan relent,What she had said: so her she soone appeased,With sugred words and gentle blandishment,Which as[1001]a fountaine from her sweet lips went,And welled goodly forth, that in short spaceShe was well pleasd, and forth her damzels sent,Through all the woods, to search from place to place,If any tract of him or tydings they mote trace.

Whom when asVenussaw so sore displeased,xxv

She inly sory was, and gan relent,

What she had said: so her she soone appeased,

With sugred words and gentle blandishment,

Which as[1001]a fountaine from her sweet lips went,

And welled goodly forth, that in short space

She was well pleasd, and forth her damzels sent,

Through all the woods, to search from place to place,

If any tract of him or tydings they mote trace.

To search the God of loue, her Nymphes she sentxxviThroughout the wandring forrest euery where:And after them her selfe eke with her wentTo seeke the fugitiue, both farre and nere,[1002]So long they sought, till they arriued wereIn that same shadie couert, whereas layFaireChrysogonein slombry traunce whilere:Who in her sleepe (a wondrous thing to say)Vnwares had borne two babes, as faire as springing day.Vnwares she them conceiu’d, vnwares she bore:xxviiShe bore withouten paine, that she conceiuedWithouten pleasure: ne her need imploreLucinaesaide: which when they both perceiued,They were through wonder nigh of sense bereaued,And gazing each on other, nought bespake:At last they both agreed, her seeming grieuedOut of her heauy swowne not to awake,But from her louing side the tender babes to take.Vp they them tooke, each one a babe vptooke,xxviiiAnd with them carried, to be fostered;DamePhœbeto a Nymph her babe betooke,To be vpbrought in perfect Maydenhed,And of her selfe her nameBelphœbered:ButVenushers thence[1003]farre away conuayd,To be vpbrought in goodly womanhed,And in her litle loues stead, which was strayd,HerAmorettacald, to comfort her dismayd.She brought her to her ioyous Paradize,xxixWhere most she wonnes, when she on earth does dwel.So faire a place, as Nature can deuize:Whether inPaphos, orCytheronhill,Or it inGnidus[1004]be, I wote not well;But well I wote by tryall, that this sameAll other pleasant places doth excell,And called is by her lost louers name,TheGardinofAdonis, farre renowmd by fame.

To search the God of loue, her Nymphes she sentxxvi

Throughout the wandring forrest euery where:

And after them her selfe eke with her went

To seeke the fugitiue, both farre and nere,[1002]

So long they sought, till they arriued were

In that same shadie couert, whereas lay

FaireChrysogonein slombry traunce whilere:

Who in her sleepe (a wondrous thing to say)

Vnwares had borne two babes, as faire as springing day.

Vnwares she them conceiu’d, vnwares she bore:xxviiShe bore withouten paine, that she conceiuedWithouten pleasure: ne her need imploreLucinaesaide: which when they both perceiued,They were through wonder nigh of sense bereaued,And gazing each on other, nought bespake:At last they both agreed, her seeming grieuedOut of her heauy swowne not to awake,But from her louing side the tender babes to take.

Vnwares she them conceiu’d, vnwares she bore:xxvii

She bore withouten paine, that she conceiued

Withouten pleasure: ne her need implore

Lucinaesaide: which when they both perceiued,

They were through wonder nigh of sense bereaued,

And gazing each on other, nought bespake:

At last they both agreed, her seeming grieued

Out of her heauy swowne not to awake,

But from her louing side the tender babes to take.

Vp they them tooke, each one a babe vptooke,xxviiiAnd with them carried, to be fostered;DamePhœbeto a Nymph her babe betooke,To be vpbrought in perfect Maydenhed,And of her selfe her nameBelphœbered:ButVenushers thence[1003]farre away conuayd,To be vpbrought in goodly womanhed,And in her litle loues stead, which was strayd,HerAmorettacald, to comfort her dismayd.

Vp they them tooke, each one a babe vptooke,xxviii

And with them carried, to be fostered;

DamePhœbeto a Nymph her babe betooke,

To be vpbrought in perfect Maydenhed,

And of her selfe her nameBelphœbered:

ButVenushers thence[1003]farre away conuayd,

To be vpbrought in goodly womanhed,

And in her litle loues stead, which was strayd,

HerAmorettacald, to comfort her dismayd.

She brought her to her ioyous Paradize,xxixWhere most she wonnes, when she on earth does dwel.So faire a place, as Nature can deuize:Whether inPaphos, orCytheronhill,Or it inGnidus[1004]be, I wote not well;But well I wote by tryall, that this sameAll other pleasant places doth excell,And called is by her lost louers name,TheGardinofAdonis, farre renowmd by fame.

She brought her to her ioyous Paradize,xxix

Where most she wonnes, when she on earth does dwel.

So faire a place, as Nature can deuize:

Whether inPaphos, orCytheronhill,

Or it inGnidus[1004]be, I wote not well;

But well I wote by tryall, that this same

All other pleasant places doth excell,

And called is by her lost louers name,

TheGardinofAdonis, farre renowmd by fame.

In that same Gardin all the goodly flowres,xxxWherewith dame Nature doth her beautifie,And decks the girlonds of her paramoures,Are fetcht: there is the first seminarieOf all things, that are borne to liue and die,According to their kindes. Long worke it were,Here to account the endlesse progenieOf all the weedes, that bud and blossome there;But so much as doth need, must needs be counted here.It sited was in fruitfull soyle of old,xxxiAnd girt in with two walles on either side;The one of yron, the other of bright gold,That none might thorough breake, nor ouer-stride:And double gates it had, which opened wide,By which both in and out men moten pas;Th’one faire and fresh, the other old and dride:OldGeniusthe porter of them was,OldGenius, the which a double nature has.He letteth in, he letteth out to wend,xxxiiAll that to come into the world desire;A thousand thousand naked babes attendAbout him day and night, which doe require,That he with fleshly weedes would them attire:Such as him list, such as eternall fateOrdained hath, he clothes with sinfull mire,And sendeth forth to liue in mortall state,Till they againe returne backe by the hinder gate.After that they againe returned beene,xxxiiiThey in that Gardin planted be againe;And grow afresh, as they had neuer seeneFleshly corruption, nor mortall paine.Some thousand yeares so doen they there remaine;[1005]And then of him are clad with other hew,Or sent into the chaungefull world againe,Till thither they returne, where first they grew:So like a wheele around they runne from old to new.

In that same Gardin all the goodly flowres,xxx

Wherewith dame Nature doth her beautifie,

And decks the girlonds of her paramoures,

Are fetcht: there is the first seminarie

Of all things, that are borne to liue and die,

According to their kindes. Long worke it were,

Here to account the endlesse progenie

Of all the weedes, that bud and blossome there;

But so much as doth need, must needs be counted here.

It sited was in fruitfull soyle of old,xxxiAnd girt in with two walles on either side;The one of yron, the other of bright gold,That none might thorough breake, nor ouer-stride:And double gates it had, which opened wide,By which both in and out men moten pas;Th’one faire and fresh, the other old and dride:OldGeniusthe porter of them was,OldGenius, the which a double nature has.

It sited was in fruitfull soyle of old,xxxi

And girt in with two walles on either side;

The one of yron, the other of bright gold,

That none might thorough breake, nor ouer-stride:

And double gates it had, which opened wide,

By which both in and out men moten pas;

Th’one faire and fresh, the other old and dride:

OldGeniusthe porter of them was,

OldGenius, the which a double nature has.

He letteth in, he letteth out to wend,xxxiiAll that to come into the world desire;A thousand thousand naked babes attendAbout him day and night, which doe require,That he with fleshly weedes would them attire:Such as him list, such as eternall fateOrdained hath, he clothes with sinfull mire,And sendeth forth to liue in mortall state,Till they againe returne backe by the hinder gate.

He letteth in, he letteth out to wend,xxxii

All that to come into the world desire;

A thousand thousand naked babes attend

About him day and night, which doe require,

That he with fleshly weedes would them attire:

Such as him list, such as eternall fate

Ordained hath, he clothes with sinfull mire,

And sendeth forth to liue in mortall state,

Till they againe returne backe by the hinder gate.

After that they againe returned beene,xxxiiiThey in that Gardin planted be againe;And grow afresh, as they had neuer seeneFleshly corruption, nor mortall paine.Some thousand yeares so doen they there remaine;[1005]And then of him are clad with other hew,Or sent into the chaungefull world againe,Till thither they returne, where first they grew:So like a wheele around they runne from old to new.

After that they againe returned beene,xxxiii

They in that Gardin planted be againe;

And grow afresh, as they had neuer seene

Fleshly corruption, nor mortall paine.

Some thousand yeares so doen they there remaine;[1005]

And then of him are clad with other hew,

Or sent into the chaungefull world againe,

Till thither they returne, where first they grew:

So like a wheele around they runne from old to new.

Ne needs there Gardiner to set, or sow,xxxivTo plant or prune[1006]: for of their owne accordAll things, as they created were, doe grow,And yet remember well the mightie word,Which first was spoken by th’Almightie lord,That bad them to increase and multiply:Ne doe they need with water of the ford,Or of the clouds to moysten their roots dry;For in themselues eternall moisture they imply.Infinite shapes of creatures there are bred,xxxvAnd vncouth formes, which none yet euer knew,And euery sort is in a sundry bedSet by it selfe, and ranckt in comely rew:Some fit for reasonable soules t’indew,Some made for beasts, some made for birds to weare,And all the fruitfull spawne of fishes hewIn endlesse rancks along enraunged were,That seem’d theOceancould not containe them there.Daily they grow, and daily forth are sentxxxviInto the world, it to replenish more;Yet is the stocke not lessened, nor spent,But still remaines in euerlasting store,As it at first created was of yore.For in the wide wombe of the world there lyes,In hatefull darkenesse and in deepe horrore,An huge eternallChaos, which supplyesThe substances of natures fruitfull progenyes.All things from thence doe their first being fetch,xxxviiAnd borrow matter, whereof they are made,Which when as forme and feature it does ketch,Becomes a bodie, and doth then inuadeThe state of life, out of the griesly shade.That substance is eterne, and bideth so,Ne when the life decayes, and forme does fade,Doth it consume, and into nothing go,But chaunged is, and often altred to and fro.

Ne needs there Gardiner to set, or sow,xxxiv

To plant or prune[1006]: for of their owne accord

All things, as they created were, doe grow,

And yet remember well the mightie word,

Which first was spoken by th’Almightie lord,

That bad them to increase and multiply:

Ne doe they need with water of the ford,

Or of the clouds to moysten their roots dry;

For in themselues eternall moisture they imply.

Infinite shapes of creatures there are bred,xxxvAnd vncouth formes, which none yet euer knew,And euery sort is in a sundry bedSet by it selfe, and ranckt in comely rew:Some fit for reasonable soules t’indew,Some made for beasts, some made for birds to weare,And all the fruitfull spawne of fishes hewIn endlesse rancks along enraunged were,That seem’d theOceancould not containe them there.

Infinite shapes of creatures there are bred,xxxv

And vncouth formes, which none yet euer knew,

And euery sort is in a sundry bed

Set by it selfe, and ranckt in comely rew:

Some fit for reasonable soules t’indew,

Some made for beasts, some made for birds to weare,

And all the fruitfull spawne of fishes hew

In endlesse rancks along enraunged were,

That seem’d theOceancould not containe them there.

Daily they grow, and daily forth are sentxxxviInto the world, it to replenish more;Yet is the stocke not lessened, nor spent,But still remaines in euerlasting store,As it at first created was of yore.For in the wide wombe of the world there lyes,In hatefull darkenesse and in deepe horrore,An huge eternallChaos, which supplyesThe substances of natures fruitfull progenyes.

Daily they grow, and daily forth are sentxxxvi

Into the world, it to replenish more;

Yet is the stocke not lessened, nor spent,

But still remaines in euerlasting store,

As it at first created was of yore.

For in the wide wombe of the world there lyes,

In hatefull darkenesse and in deepe horrore,

An huge eternallChaos, which supplyes

The substances of natures fruitfull progenyes.

All things from thence doe their first being fetch,xxxviiAnd borrow matter, whereof they are made,Which when as forme and feature it does ketch,Becomes a bodie, and doth then inuadeThe state of life, out of the griesly shade.That substance is eterne, and bideth so,Ne when the life decayes, and forme does fade,Doth it consume, and into nothing go,But chaunged is, and often altred to and fro.

All things from thence doe their first being fetch,xxxvii

And borrow matter, whereof they are made,

Which when as forme and feature it does ketch,

Becomes a bodie, and doth then inuade

The state of life, out of the griesly shade.

That substance is eterne, and bideth so,

Ne when the life decayes, and forme does fade,

Doth it consume, and into nothing go,

But chaunged is, and often altred to and fro.

The substance is not chaunged, nor altered,xxxviiiBut th’only forme and outward fashion;For euery substance is conditionedTo change her hew, and sundry formes to don,Meet for her temper and complexion:For formes are variable and decay,By course of kind, and by occasion;And that faire flowre of beautie fades away,As doth the lilly fresh before the sunny ray.Great enimy to it, and to all the rest,xxxixThat in theGardinofAdonissprings,Is wickedTime, who with his scyth addrest,Does mow the flowring herbes and goodly things,And all their glory to the ground downe flings,Where they doe wither, and are fowly mard:He flyes about, and with his flaggy wingsBeates downe both leaues and buds without regard,Ne euer pittie may relent his malice hard.Yet pittie often did the gods relent,xlTo see so faire things mard, and spoyled quight:And their great motherVenusdid lamentThe losse of her deare brood, her deare delight:Her hart was pierst with pittie at the sight,When walking through the Gardin, them she spyde[1007],Yet no’te she find redresse for such despight.For all that liues, is subiect to that law:All things decay in time, and to their end do draw.But were it not, thatTimetheir troubler is,xliAll that in this delightfull Gardin growes,Should happie be, and haue immortall blis:For here all plentie, and all pleasure flowes,And sweet loue gentle fits emongst them throwes,Without fell rancor, or fond gealosie;Franckly each paramour his leman knowes,Each bird his mate, ne any does enuieTheir goodly meriment, and gay felicitie.

The substance is not chaunged, nor altered,xxxviii

But th’only forme and outward fashion;

For euery substance is conditioned

To change her hew, and sundry formes to don,

Meet for her temper and complexion:

For formes are variable and decay,

By course of kind, and by occasion;

And that faire flowre of beautie fades away,

As doth the lilly fresh before the sunny ray.

Great enimy to it, and to all the rest,xxxixThat in theGardinofAdonissprings,Is wickedTime, who with his scyth addrest,Does mow the flowring herbes and goodly things,And all their glory to the ground downe flings,Where they doe wither, and are fowly mard:He flyes about, and with his flaggy wingsBeates downe both leaues and buds without regard,Ne euer pittie may relent his malice hard.

Great enimy to it, and to all the rest,xxxix

That in theGardinofAdonissprings,

Is wickedTime, who with his scyth addrest,

Does mow the flowring herbes and goodly things,

And all their glory to the ground downe flings,

Where they doe wither, and are fowly mard:

He flyes about, and with his flaggy wings

Beates downe both leaues and buds without regard,

Ne euer pittie may relent his malice hard.

Yet pittie often did the gods relent,xlTo see so faire things mard, and spoyled quight:And their great motherVenusdid lamentThe losse of her deare brood, her deare delight:Her hart was pierst with pittie at the sight,When walking through the Gardin, them she spyde[1007],Yet no’te she find redresse for such despight.For all that liues, is subiect to that law:All things decay in time, and to their end do draw.

Yet pittie often did the gods relent,xl

To see so faire things mard, and spoyled quight:

And their great motherVenusdid lament

The losse of her deare brood, her deare delight:

Her hart was pierst with pittie at the sight,

When walking through the Gardin, them she spyde[1007],

Yet no’te she find redresse for such despight.

For all that liues, is subiect to that law:

All things decay in time, and to their end do draw.

But were it not, thatTimetheir troubler is,xliAll that in this delightfull Gardin growes,Should happie be, and haue immortall blis:For here all plentie, and all pleasure flowes,And sweet loue gentle fits emongst them throwes,Without fell rancor, or fond gealosie;Franckly each paramour his leman knowes,Each bird his mate, ne any does enuieTheir goodly meriment, and gay felicitie.

But were it not, thatTimetheir troubler is,xli

All that in this delightfull Gardin growes,

Should happie be, and haue immortall blis:

For here all plentie, and all pleasure flowes,

And sweet loue gentle fits emongst them throwes,

Without fell rancor, or fond gealosie;

Franckly each paramour his leman knowes,

Each bird his mate, ne any does enuie

Their goodly meriment, and gay felicitie.

There is continuall spring, and haruest therexliiContinuall, both meeting at one time:For both the boughes doe laughing blossomes beare,And with fresh colours decke the wanton Prime,And eke attonce the heauy[1008]trees they clime,Which seeme to labour vnder their fruits lode:The whiles the ioyous birdes make their pastimeEmongst the shadie leaues, their sweet abode,And their true loues without suspition tell abrode.Right in the middest of that Paradise,xliiiThere stood a stately Mount, on whose round topA gloomy groue of mirtle trees did rise,Whose shadie boughes sharpe steele did neuer lop,Nor wicked beasts their tender buds did crop,But like a girlond compassed the hight,And from their fruitfull sides sweet gum did drop,That all the ground with precious deaw bedight,Threw forth most dainty odours, and most sweet delight.And in the thickest couert of that shade,xlivThere was a pleasant arbour, not by art,But of the trees owne inclination made,Which knitting their rancke braunches part to part,With wanton yuie twyne entrayld athwart,And Eglantine, and Caprifole emong,Fashiond aboue within their inmost part,That netherPhœbusbeams could through them throng,NorAeolussharp blast could worke them any wrong.And all about grew euery sort of flowre,xlvTo which sad louers were transformd of yore;FreshHyacinthus,Phœbusparamoure,And dearest loue,[1009]FoolishNarcisse[1010], that likes the watry shore,SadAmaranthus, made a flowre but late,SadAmaranthus, in whose purple goreMe seemes I seeAmintaswretched fate,To whom sweet Poets verse hath giuen endlesse date.

There is continuall spring, and haruest therexlii

Continuall, both meeting at one time:

For both the boughes doe laughing blossomes beare,

And with fresh colours decke the wanton Prime,

And eke attonce the heauy[1008]trees they clime,

Which seeme to labour vnder their fruits lode:

The whiles the ioyous birdes make their pastime

Emongst the shadie leaues, their sweet abode,

And their true loues without suspition tell abrode.

Right in the middest of that Paradise,xliiiThere stood a stately Mount, on whose round topA gloomy groue of mirtle trees did rise,Whose shadie boughes sharpe steele did neuer lop,Nor wicked beasts their tender buds did crop,But like a girlond compassed the hight,And from their fruitfull sides sweet gum did drop,That all the ground with precious deaw bedight,Threw forth most dainty odours, and most sweet delight.

Right in the middest of that Paradise,xliii

There stood a stately Mount, on whose round top

A gloomy groue of mirtle trees did rise,

Whose shadie boughes sharpe steele did neuer lop,

Nor wicked beasts their tender buds did crop,

But like a girlond compassed the hight,

And from their fruitfull sides sweet gum did drop,

That all the ground with precious deaw bedight,

Threw forth most dainty odours, and most sweet delight.

And in the thickest couert of that shade,xlivThere was a pleasant arbour, not by art,But of the trees owne inclination made,Which knitting their rancke braunches part to part,With wanton yuie twyne entrayld athwart,And Eglantine, and Caprifole emong,Fashiond aboue within their inmost part,That netherPhœbusbeams could through them throng,NorAeolussharp blast could worke them any wrong.

And in the thickest couert of that shade,xliv

There was a pleasant arbour, not by art,

But of the trees owne inclination made,

Which knitting their rancke braunches part to part,

With wanton yuie twyne entrayld athwart,

And Eglantine, and Caprifole emong,

Fashiond aboue within their inmost part,

That netherPhœbusbeams could through them throng,

NorAeolussharp blast could worke them any wrong.

And all about grew euery sort of flowre,xlvTo which sad louers were transformd of yore;FreshHyacinthus,Phœbusparamoure,And dearest loue,[1009]FoolishNarcisse[1010], that likes the watry shore,SadAmaranthus, made a flowre but late,SadAmaranthus, in whose purple goreMe seemes I seeAmintaswretched fate,To whom sweet Poets verse hath giuen endlesse date.

And all about grew euery sort of flowre,xlv

To which sad louers were transformd of yore;

FreshHyacinthus,Phœbusparamoure,

And dearest loue,[1009]

FoolishNarcisse[1010], that likes the watry shore,

SadAmaranthus, made a flowre but late,

SadAmaranthus, in whose purple gore

Me seemes I seeAmintaswretched fate,

To whom sweet Poets verse hath giuen endlesse date.

There wont faireVenusoften to enioyxlviHer deareAdonisioyous company,And reape sweet pleasure of the wanton boy;There yet, some say, in secret he does ly,Lapped in flowres and pretious spycery,By her hid from the world, and from the skillOfStygianGods, which doe her loue enuy;But she her selfe, when euer that she will,Possesseth him, and of his sweetnesse takes her fill.And sooth it seemes they say: for he may notxlviiFor euer die, and euer buried beeIn balefull night, where all things are forgot;All be he subiect to mortalitie,Yet is eterne in mutabilitie,And by succession made perpetuall,Transformed oft, and chaunged diuerslie:For him the Father of all formes they call;Therefore needs mote he liue, that liuing giues to all.There now he liueth in eternall blis,xlviiiIoying his goddesse, and of her enioyd:Ne feareth he henceforth that foe of his,Which with his cruell tuske him deadly cloyd:For that wilde Bore, the which him once annoyd,She firmely hath emprisoned for ay,That her sweet loue his malice mote auoyd,In a strong rocky Caue, which is they say,Hewen vnderneath that Mount, that none him losen may.There now he liues in euerlasting ioy,xlixWith many of the Gods in company,Which thither haunt, and with the winged boySporting himselfe in safe felicity:Who when he hath with spoiles and crueltyRansackt the world, and in the wofull hartsOf many wretches set his triumphes hye,Thither resorts, and laying his sad dartsAside, with faireAdonisplayes his wanton parts.

There wont faireVenusoften to enioyxlvi

Her deareAdonisioyous company,

And reape sweet pleasure of the wanton boy;

There yet, some say, in secret he does ly,

Lapped in flowres and pretious spycery,

By her hid from the world, and from the skill

OfStygianGods, which doe her loue enuy;

But she her selfe, when euer that she will,

Possesseth him, and of his sweetnesse takes her fill.

And sooth it seemes they say: for he may notxlviiFor euer die, and euer buried beeIn balefull night, where all things are forgot;All be he subiect to mortalitie,Yet is eterne in mutabilitie,And by succession made perpetuall,Transformed oft, and chaunged diuerslie:For him the Father of all formes they call;Therefore needs mote he liue, that liuing giues to all.

And sooth it seemes they say: for he may notxlvii

For euer die, and euer buried bee

In balefull night, where all things are forgot;

All be he subiect to mortalitie,

Yet is eterne in mutabilitie,

And by succession made perpetuall,

Transformed oft, and chaunged diuerslie:

For him the Father of all formes they call;

Therefore needs mote he liue, that liuing giues to all.

There now he liueth in eternall blis,xlviiiIoying his goddesse, and of her enioyd:Ne feareth he henceforth that foe of his,Which with his cruell tuske him deadly cloyd:For that wilde Bore, the which him once annoyd,She firmely hath emprisoned for ay,That her sweet loue his malice mote auoyd,In a strong rocky Caue, which is they say,Hewen vnderneath that Mount, that none him losen may.

There now he liueth in eternall blis,xlviii

Ioying his goddesse, and of her enioyd:

Ne feareth he henceforth that foe of his,

Which with his cruell tuske him deadly cloyd:

For that wilde Bore, the which him once annoyd,

She firmely hath emprisoned for ay,

That her sweet loue his malice mote auoyd,

In a strong rocky Caue, which is they say,

Hewen vnderneath that Mount, that none him losen may.

There now he liues in euerlasting ioy,xlixWith many of the Gods in company,Which thither haunt, and with the winged boySporting himselfe in safe felicity:Who when he hath with spoiles and crueltyRansackt the world, and in the wofull hartsOf many wretches set his triumphes hye,Thither resorts, and laying his sad dartsAside, with faireAdonisplayes his wanton parts.

There now he liues in euerlasting ioy,xlix

With many of the Gods in company,

Which thither haunt, and with the winged boy

Sporting himselfe in safe felicity:

Who when he hath with spoiles and cruelty

Ransackt the world, and in the wofull harts

Of many wretches set his triumphes hye,

Thither resorts, and laying his sad darts

Aside, with faireAdonisplayes his wanton parts.

And his true loue fairePsychewith him playes,lFairePsycheto him lately reconcyld,After long troubles and vnmeet vpbrayes,With which his motherVenusher reuyld,And eke himselfe her cruelly exyld:But now in stedfast loue and happy stateShe with him liues, and hath him borne a chyld,Pleasure, that doth both gods and men aggrate,Pleasure, the daughter ofCupidandPsychelate.Hither greatVenusbrought this infant faire,liThe younger daughter ofChrysogonee,And vntoPsychewith great trust and careCommitted her, yfostered to bee,And trained vp in true feminitee:Who no lesse carefully her tendered,Then her owne daughterPleasure, to whom sheeMade her companion, and her lessonedIn all the lore of loue, and goodly womanhead.In which when she to perfect ripenesse grew,liiOf grace and beautie noble Paragone,She brought her forth into the worldes vew,To be th’ensample of true loue alone,And Lodestarre of all chaste affectione,To all faire Ladies, that doe liue on ground.To Faery court she came, where many oneAdmyrd her goodly haueour, and foundHis feeble hart wide launched[1011]with loues cruell wound.But she to none of them her loue did cast,liiiSaue to the noble knight SirScudamore,To whom her louing hart she linked fastIn faithfull[1012]loue, t’abide for euermore,And for his dearest sake endured sore,Sore trouble of an hainous enimy;Who her would forced haue to haue forloreHer former loue, and stedfast loialty,As ye may elsewhere read that ruefull history.

And his true loue fairePsychewith him playes,l

FairePsycheto him lately reconcyld,

After long troubles and vnmeet vpbrayes,

With which his motherVenusher reuyld,

And eke himselfe her cruelly exyld:

But now in stedfast loue and happy state

She with him liues, and hath him borne a chyld,

Pleasure, that doth both gods and men aggrate,

Pleasure, the daughter ofCupidandPsychelate.

Hither greatVenusbrought this infant faire,liThe younger daughter ofChrysogonee,And vntoPsychewith great trust and careCommitted her, yfostered to bee,And trained vp in true feminitee:Who no lesse carefully her tendered,Then her owne daughterPleasure, to whom sheeMade her companion, and her lessonedIn all the lore of loue, and goodly womanhead.

Hither greatVenusbrought this infant faire,li

The younger daughter ofChrysogonee,

And vntoPsychewith great trust and care

Committed her, yfostered to bee,

And trained vp in true feminitee:

Who no lesse carefully her tendered,

Then her owne daughterPleasure, to whom shee

Made her companion, and her lessoned

In all the lore of loue, and goodly womanhead.

In which when she to perfect ripenesse grew,liiOf grace and beautie noble Paragone,She brought her forth into the worldes vew,To be th’ensample of true loue alone,And Lodestarre of all chaste affectione,To all faire Ladies, that doe liue on ground.To Faery court she came, where many oneAdmyrd her goodly haueour, and foundHis feeble hart wide launched[1011]with loues cruell wound.

In which when she to perfect ripenesse grew,lii

Of grace and beautie noble Paragone,

She brought her forth into the worldes vew,

To be th’ensample of true loue alone,

And Lodestarre of all chaste affectione,

To all faire Ladies, that doe liue on ground.

To Faery court she came, where many one

Admyrd her goodly haueour, and found

His feeble hart wide launched[1011]with loues cruell wound.

But she to none of them her loue did cast,liiiSaue to the noble knight SirScudamore,To whom her louing hart she linked fastIn faithfull[1012]loue, t’abide for euermore,And for his dearest sake endured sore,Sore trouble of an hainous enimy;Who her would forced haue to haue forloreHer former loue, and stedfast loialty,As ye may elsewhere read that ruefull history.

But she to none of them her loue did cast,liii

Saue to the noble knight SirScudamore,

To whom her louing hart she linked fast

In faithfull[1012]loue, t’abide for euermore,

And for his dearest sake endured sore,

Sore trouble of an hainous enimy;

Who her would forced haue to haue forlore

Her former loue, and stedfast loialty,

As ye may elsewhere read that ruefull history.

But well I weene, ye first desire to learne,livWhat end vnto that fearefull Damozell,Which fled so fast from that same foster stearne,Whom with his brethrenTimiasslew, befell:That was to weet, the goodlyFlorimell;Who wandring for to seeke her louer deare,Her louer deare, her dearestMarinell,Into misfortune fell, as ye did heare,And from PrinceArthurfled with wings of idle feare.

But well I weene, ye first desire to learne,liv

What end vnto that fearefull Damozell,

Which fled so fast from that same foster stearne,

Whom with his brethrenTimiasslew, befell:

That was to weet, the goodlyFlorimell;

Who wandring for to seeke her louer deare,

Her louer deare, her dearestMarinell,

Into misfortune fell, as ye did heare,

And from PrinceArthurfled with wings of idle feare.

FOOTNOTES:[993]i 6 schoolmaistresse1590[994]iii 9 was] were1590[995]v 3 bare] bore1590[996]vi 5 his hot beames1609[997]viii 8 creatures] creature1596[998]xii 4 beauties1596,1609[999]xvii 6 off] of1590[1000]8 Other1609[1001]xxv 5 Which as] From which1590,1596:corr. 1609. Of whichconj. Church.[1002]xxvi 4 both farre and nereom. 1590[1003]xxviii 6 thence] hence1596,1609[1004]xxix 5Gnidas1590[1005]xxxiii 5 remaire;1596[1006]xxxiv 2 of prune1596[1007]xl 6 spyde] sawcorr. edd. But cf.II viii 29 l. 7&c.[1008]xlii 5 heauy] heauenly1590[1009]xlv 4 And dearest loue,om. 1590, 1596:add. 1609[1010]5Marcisse1590[1011]lii 9 launched] launch1590: launced1609[1012]liii 4 fathful1596

[993]i 6 schoolmaistresse1590

[994]iii 9 was] were1590

[995]v 3 bare] bore1590

[996]vi 5 his hot beames1609

[997]viii 8 creatures] creature1596

[998]xii 4 beauties1596,1609

[999]xvii 6 off] of1590

[1000]8 Other1609

[1001]xxv 5 Which as] From which1590,1596:corr. 1609. Of whichconj. Church.

[1002]xxvi 4 both farre and nereom. 1590

[1003]xxviii 6 thence] hence1596,1609

[1004]xxix 5Gnidas1590

[1005]xxxiii 5 remaire;1596

[1006]xxxiv 2 of prune1596

[1007]xl 6 spyde] sawcorr. edd. But cf.II viii 29 l. 7&c.

[1008]xlii 5 heauy] heauenly1590

[1009]xlv 4 And dearest loue,om. 1590, 1596:add. 1609

[1010]5Marcisse1590

[1011]lii 9 launched] launch1590: launced1609

[1012]liii 4 fathful1596

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